Chapter 8 "I'm Goin' to Utah" Summary and Analysis

After his experience with the avalanche, Ralston regains his confidence about avalanche awareness by taking a ski trip to Mount Sopris with a friend and colleague, Rick Inman.

In March of 2003, Ralston and Gareth Roberts compete in the Elk Mountains Grand Traverse. Caught in whiteout conditions, Ralston digs a snow cave to wait out the storm. More than 40 percent of the teams competing drop out due to inclement weather. Ralston and Gareth are the sixtieth team to finish the race, with the winning teams having finished the route nine hours earlier. Still, they celebrate finishing the race.

A few weeks later, Ralston decides to return to Mount Sopris for a ski trip over a long weekend. He tells his friend Brad that a planned trip to Holy Cross was cancelled and...